It appears that the Canadians, particularly in the Montreal area once used Scottish firebricks to clad their new builds, particularly mansion-style houses. Firebricks are heat resistant but in the same breath they can withstand severe cold without flaking or cracking like ordinary bricks hence many houses were built with them in Montreal. From the sample adverts below it seems to have been a big selling point.
Below – 1892 – Place D’Armes – this large square, used for military drills and parades during the French regime, is dominated by Château Frontenac, Quebec City, Quebec, a massive hotel of Scottish firebrick and grey limestone built in 1892 on the site of Fort St Louis to resemble a 16th-century chateau. – page 141.
(Note – SBH – I have tried several times to contact the management at the Chateau Frontenac to establish if they know which Scottish fire bricks were actually used in the build, ie are the bricks stamped. Sadly, I have never received a reply. If anyone can assist in this quest it would be greatly appreciated).
Below – 19/12/1939– The Montreal Gazette.
Below – 25/07/1941 – The Montreal Gazette.
Below – 16/02/1942 – The Montreal Gazette.
Below – 02/07/1943 – The Montreal Gazette.
17/11/1944 – The Montreal Gazette.
Below – 02/09/1948 – The Montreal Gazette.
Thank you to Razec Egroj for sending the photo. Glenboig Union Fireclay Company, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Alternative brickworks include: Glenboig Star Fireclay Works, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Glenboig Fireclay Works, (Old Works) Glenboig, Lanarkshire .
This brick is in the possession of Kent Murray and a label attached to it states ‘The Adolphus William Copper Mine 1870 – 1879? It is a fireclay circle brick and shows some lovely ‘kiss marks’. Cumbernauld Fireclay Works, Cumbernauld, Lanarkshire. . . .
Found by Alexey in Ukraine. Glenboig Union Fireclay Company, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Alternative brickworks include: Glenboig Star Fireclay Works, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Glenboig Fireclay Works, (Old Works) Glenboig, Lanarkshire Below – Thistle SP 5125 Detrick Below – Nettle SP 13 Detrick – hanger brick. Below – 5699 P Thistle 2 – possibly a boiler brick.
Julkia Rizzi states this Thistle brick was photographed as part of a coal-burning fireplace in a house in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada. Stein, Castlecary Fireclay Works, Castlecary, Stirlingshire. Stein, Manuel Firebrick and Refractory Works, Whitecross, Stirlingshire. Stein & Co, Anchor Brickworks, Denny, Stirlingshire. Milnquarter Fireclay & Gannister Works, Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire . .
Found by Sævar Gardarsson in an old house in Reykjavik, Iceland that was built in 1920. Prestongrange Brick and Tile Works, Prestonpans, East Lothian. . . .
Brian Tarbuck states this brick was found in Augusta, Maine, USA while replacing a water pipe. Allan & Mann, Port Eglinton, Glasgow Alternative brickworks include: Rutherglen Pottery, Glasgow. Mallsmire Works, Myrtle Park, Crosshill, Glasgow. ,
Found by John Barnard at Fitzroy, Falkland Islands. Stein, Castlecary Fireclay Works, Castlecary, Stirlingshire. Stein, Manuel Firebrick and Refractory Works, Whitecross, Stirlingshire. Stein & Co, Anchor Brickworks, Denny, Stirlingshire. Milnquarter Fireclay & Gannister Works, Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire .
Many thanks to Vladimir Smirnov for highlighting this brick to me which was found in the vicinity of the St. Petersburg Region, Gatchina Region, Russia by a brick collector, Alexander Korolev. It was discovered the stove of a private house. Stein, Castlecary Fireclay Works, Castlecary, Stirlingshire. Stein, Manuel Firebrick and Refractory Works, Whitecross, Stirlingshire. Stein &…
Found by Glyn Harrison at an unknown location in New Zealand. This example is not in my possession. Douglas Fireclay Works, Dalry, Ayrshire. The reference to Bigelow on this special undoubtedly refers to the Bigelow Arch Company of Detroit, USA. Bigelow-Liptak Corporation was originally incorporated in 1927 with the merger of the Bigelow Arch Company of…
Found by Ken Sousa in Massachusetts, USA. Gartcraig Fire Clay Works, By Millerston, Glasgow. . . . .
